Falcao faces anxious injury wait

Colombia and Monaco striker Radamel Falcao faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of a knee injury that could put his place at the World Cup finals in doubt.

Radamel Falcao is stretchered off.

Falcao, 27, suffered the injury following a heavy challenge by Soner Ertek in the 40th minute of Monaco's 3-0 French Cup win at Monts d'Or Azergues Foot on Wednesday. Earlier, he had scored the goal that gave his team the lead at the break.

Monaco issued a short statement after the game, which read: "The player Radamel Falcao was hit in the left knee. He must await further tests in the coming days to clarify the exact nature of the injury."

Falcao was signed from Atletico Madrid for a fee believed to be in the region of 60 million euros last summer, and has netted nine goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances this term.

But speculation has surfaced over his future in France, with rumours suggesting he could move on before the end of the month, either to Real Madrid or to a Premier League club.

However, the injury looks likely to ensure that he will be at Monaco beyond the current transfer window.

Colombia have been tipped to be one of this year's dark horses at the World Cup and have been handed a favourable group, drawn alongside Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan.